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Happy Thanksgiving and Welcome to the Family...Baby Harland

Posted Nov. 23, 2020, 9:21 p.m. by Lieutenant Nathan Harland (Counselor) (Steven Sigle)

Posted by Ensign Chloe Harland (Nurse) in Happy Thanksgiving and Welcome to the Family…Baby Harland

Posted by Lieutenant Nathan Harland (Counselor) in Happy Thanksgiving and Welcome to the Family Logan

Posted by Ensign Chloe Harland (Nurse) in Happy Thanksgiving and Welcome to the Family Logan
Chloe clicked off the comm and let out a deep, heavy sigh. Moving slower than normal, she walked into the living room draping her arms around Nathan’s neck. He was busy writing reports but this was important. “Hey baby,” she kissed his cheek resting her head on his shoulder.

Nathan paused as he leaned into the kiss as he placed the PaDD down. “You only get this snuggly when you either want sex or have news.” Nathan said with a smirk as he moved back from his chair as he stood up so he could wrap his arms around her. It had gotten harder in time to come around her completely as her belly grew, but Nathan always took the effort to shower her with some love whenever he could.

“So… which is it?” he asked, in a teasing sultry tone. He hopped for the latter, but he knew what day it was and doubted there was much chance for any stuffing outside of a turkey.

“That was your cousin. Matthew is coming to dinner along with my parents, your dad, and my brother. That makes ten of us for dinner. Meredith, Delaney, and Thomas wanted to come but they have to go to the other families.” Chloe knew that at least the name Meredith being taken off the guest list was the best gift Nathan could receive to the start of the holiday season. He liked Kevin’s wife and who didn’t love Molly but Meredith was the one family member Nathan always seemed to have the locked jaw posture whenever speaking to her. Meredith’s bouncing from relationship to relationship, which was always true love at the start, and her ability to poor mouth all situations drove him up the wall.

“Such a shame about Meredith, I guess I don’t need to bring out the brimstone air fresheners to make her feel comfortable after all.” he said with the most sincerest of tones in his voice as he looked back to Molly in the other room who was helping Logan.

“Hey Mol dear, you can put back the pitchforks we won’t need them to eat with today Merridth is coming…” he added, really laying it on thick as Molly couldn’t help but laugh at her Uncle some as Logan seemed confused as to why any pitchforks would be needed at all as he squinted and ran over to Molly as he whispered in her ear.

“Really? Really,” Chloe raised an eyebrow. The feud was well known but the kids were getting to that age where they just started to realize something as secretive but not the good sense to keep that secret. “See. You’re going to be the one to explain that mister,” she winked at Nate seeing Logan starting to put two and two together.

“No, your daddy is just being silly… Aunt Meredith and Uncle Nate haven’t really gotten along since Aunt Meredith tried to get rid of her pitbull on Christmas eve a few years back.” Molly said as she put down the last plate as she plopped down on the couch with an exhausted sigh before instantly taking her iMapple Infinity out as she began to talk to her friends.

“Might not be the only reason, but I am glad to hear the rest are coming… we haven’t had this many in such a long time.” Nathan said as he remembered so many missed thanksgivings due to him often hiding away or finding ‘vacations’ to take their family on for the past few years.

“Its the polite reason,” she corrected her husband with a smile the kids would only assume as their mommy happy with their daddy. “Thank you for agreeing to have everyone over. I am so excited to do this. I always wanted a huge dinner in my own home like I had with my family around the table. Perfect turkey…you carving it,” she tickled his side happily. “It is going to be everything I have ever dreamt of and more. It is our first!” They had only just arrived on the Outpost for all intents and purposes and the baby was literally on the way this month, but this was going to be the first holiday without Maddie. Chloe was going to make it the best holiday she ever could.

“Well… I didn’t really have great holidays… figure our kids shouldn’t have the same burden. It’ll be fine.. it’ll be more than fine.” Nathan said as he kissed Chloe’s cheek as he went to go check on the rest of the family.

” I need to go out and get some things today. If we replicate everything we will never hear the end of it. My mom mentioned she could spend the night and help me with the turkey. ” Chloe let the news hang in the air testing the waters. Nathan and her family were a complicated situation. The loved and adored him as much as they were beginning to become annoyed with his constant testing of the Kendrick boundaries. The Kendrick boundary wasn’t exactly a boundary but a sharp cut off like a cliffs edge. When one was allowed to enter the Kendrick clan, one embraced the Kendrick clan’s traditions and rules. Holidays were strictly observed with a schedule and plan. Of all the holidays, Christmas was the my holiday or the highway event. Thanksgiving was a bit more flexible but it was like a dry run.

“We can cook a turkey… we have that Jordan Cramsey home cooking on the subnet, we can try the bacon glazed turkey and it’ll be fine… if the worst happens we can contact Aedan one of his resteraunt chefs can just cook for us.” Nathan said as he wasn’t about to let her mom dictate the turkey, or anything to do with their celebration at all.

“Oh my god no we need to inite them,” Chloe clapped her hands excitedly. “Who wants to go to a restaurant? Besides it will give Mara someone to play with.”

Chloe let out small grunt as she stood up poking her side. “Your baby is using my ribs like a jungle gym,” she laughed. Taking a few deep breaths she began to walk away to get dressed. “Come with me to the store?”

“Sure, just lemme tell Molly to watch the kids.” Nathan said as he was heading back to the living room before he felt a buzz in his pants.

“Molly is busy. Leave your name at the beep,” she overheard Nate and already started to scheme.

Nathan’s phone began to buzz as Chloe left to get more coffee. Surprisingly or maybe not so surprisingly a name flashed crossed the screen: Jennifer Kendrick

“Seriously Uncle Nate I have plans,” Molly set the phone down only to begin the teen debate. Since he was on he phone with her grandmother, that meant he had to multi-task. Like all households, the second a parent answered a call, the kids revolted. Molly toed Mara just for extra measure. She was a shoe in to get underfoot when someone got on the phone.

“One second.” he said as he grimaced slightly. “She has bat ears…” he said softly before answer the device as a holo of Chloe’s mom popped up for him to smile softly at.

Looking up Mara immediately let her attention go to the cookie jar on the counter. Eyeing Nate she stood up and slowly walked the length of the couch never taking her eyes off her Dad. It was similar to a thief hugging a wall on a stake out only this thief was wearing a sweet pink dress with a polar bear on it and out in the open.

“Hello Nathan,” her voice was warm and friendly. “I just got off the phone with Chloe and I was hoping to talk to you privately.” This request was not really a request but more of a polite declarative statement.

“I have a huge assignment due in two days. Andorian history and how they entered the Federation. I need to meet up at the library to finish it,” Molly began to plead her case.

“I wuv woo,” Mara stopped her trek along the edge of the couch giving Nate a huge smile as her eyes met his. In her last year of cookie stealing, she didn’t know much but she knew if they saw you, you didn’t get the cookie. Playing with her dress, Mara stood still but kept her eyes on Nathan as she scowled. He needed to be away from the kitchen not in it.

“Sure…” Nathan said as he quietly slipped into the kitchen area as he waited for Chloe to be out of earshot.

A tug on Nathan’s pant leg added to the confusion as Logan handed him a pair of shoes to untie. Since Nathan and Chloe decided to work things out and Nathan moved back in Logan was his shadow. He had gotten over crying when Nate left or work fearing it would not be hours but weeks until the next time he saw his dad. The shoes in his hand was a boon for Molly. If they were taking one they could take both and she could hang out with her friends.

Nathan smiled softly as he sat down as he took the shoes from Logan as he had his son hope onto his lap as he squezed his son softly as he began to untie the shoes for him as he continued talking.

“You know I mind my own business but ten people in your apartment might be a bit tight. I would absolutely love to come over but do you think the stress and confusion will be too much on Chloe? There is so much to do and she is due any day now. We can always do next year after the baby is born if you think it would be best for her to just nap, sit with her feet up, avoid stress…” Jen gave him plenty of excuses. All she needed him to do was pull the cord and turn the reins back over to her.

Chloe

“No… she wants this, I am helping we have Molly, Logan, and Mara chipping in… this is important to her and this…” he said pausing to indicate the requests she just made. “This will cause more stress than doing it. I will find a way to make it perfect, or as close as our family calls it perfect… you guys just show up and be hungry.”

Harland, CNS

“Well, our shuttle made amazing time. We will be in tonight instead of three days from now. It’s amazing how efficient it is,” Jen lied through her teeth. Space travel was fast but the only way it was three days early was due to changing a flight and making it basically non-stop. Whatever Drew and Jen paid for was not the tickets Nate and Chloe sent them. Even a Federation ship on warp 10 couldn’t make it that fast. It was clear that Jen did not trust her daughter to do this unsupervised.

“Everyone will be thrilled… look I am going to have to get going soon to get the rest… we are all excited… I will be at the shuttle bay to pick you up.” Nathan said as he finished untying the shoes as he handed them to Logan as he kissed his son ontop of his head.

“Wait Nana and Grandpa are coming tonight,” Molly groaned from the couch. “Uncle Nate I have plans!” Flopping back on the couch, she flung her hands dramatically to the side. Holidays were great if you were the only ones celebrating them but holidays on the outpost were not the same as holidays on Earth. She had already learned that fact with July fourth and Labor day. Uncle Nate and Aunt Molly had planned the traditional picnic type activities but with no one else celebrating the days, she missed a great concert. Until this moment she hadn’t thought of the implications of spending five days alone with her family.

“Oh is that Molly,” Jen said. Knowing the plight of teenagers having raised four of her own, this was her way to seamlessly insert herself into the fray. “Tell her if she has plans I can help Chloe out.” This would be a great chance to streamline the event as it was supposed to be and not let it turn into some chow hall Starfleet event.

“Yes yes… and no she can help out, she knew you were coming and she’s just trying to make excuses. We are going to have a happy thanks giving.” Nathan said looking up as he winked at Chloe.

Chloe exited the bedroom hearing her mother mention her name and helping out. No. Help, she mouthed to Nate. There was no way she could say no to her mom. It never worked. Making a pleaded prayer gesture with her hands, she closed her eyes as if praying he would handle Jen. She rarely did this…put him on the spot but Chloe did want to spend time with him making the turkey and crappy gravy. It was all part of the experience.

The added confusion of Molly whining and Logan making her dad look at him and not here was super helpful to Mara. Oh sweet cookie. You will be mine, she thought with a devlish smile on her face. By now she had made it almost to the kitchen. The jar was on the counter but she could slip it off and head to her room.

“Uncle Nate,” Molly moaned low so her voice could not be picked up by her grandmother. “I can still go out with Phillip right? I don’t have to spend the entire five days with them. I will go nuts. You can’t do this to me. You know what they are like. You ran away from home too!”

Chloe and the chaos brood.

“No! We are going to be together!” Nathan shouted with a sharp look at Molly. “We are going to cook a turkey, I am gonna get the Christmas decorations out… we are going to have a happies little thanksgiving ever and you will like it… you all will… now do as you are told.” Nathan said, feeling his last nerve being stamped on.

Harland, CNS


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